Samaras’ 12 measures for the safety of citizens and immigrants

By presenting today the "twelve steps for the safety of citizens and tackling illegal immigration," ND president Antonis Samaras put forward citizen security as a precondition for economic development.

 

"The safety of citizens is a precondition for democracy, no city is free if it cannot protect its citizens from fear. Until a few years ago we were dominated by the view that policing is a bad thing but now that it was absent the crime exploded. No person can be free when afraid for his family due to promiscuity and crime," he said.

 

But there is the economic dimension he added, since without security there can be no growth, illegal markets and economy are booming. There can be no organized production when someone drives away business, closes ports etc. "Safety is the most fundamental precondition for development."

 

Then he presented his twelve steps for the consolidation of security:

 

-          change the law for the arrest and conviction of an offender. There are hoodlums currently that are caught and released because of doubts and when they get caught carrying molotovs claim that the police officers planted them in their bags and are released again. It should be allowed to photograph and video such episodes

-          use of policing methods that do not endanger human lives

-          establishment of police vans carrying water cannons

-          bring back to the policeman in the neighborhood. This means three things 1) release the police from paperwork 2) unify the police motor forces 3) have helicopters for filming incidents

-          unify and strengthen the directories against organized crime usually

-          change the whole criminal treatment. The poorly understood "clemency" has led to impunity. Those found guilty must stay in jail long enough

-          relieve prisons

-          deport foreign convicts

-          immediately open the prisons that are ready

-          change the entire prison code

-          address minor crimes which usually are the precursors of more serious ones

-          there should be a national security doctrine that would begin with the threats to public safety and reach the repressive mechanisms of preventive treatment

 

Illegal immigration

 

Regarding illegal immigration, the ND president said that the immigrants are not only economic ones but also people who have already committed a crime by illegally entering the country.

 

Better guarding of the border with physical barriers such as the fence in Evros and use of technology such as infrared cameras that inform the authorities. Also better cooperation with FRONTEX.

 

-          establishment of accommodation centers to channel all new that cross the borders and those arrested for offenses

-          major European initiative from the european south for a single asylum policy and a unified policy on repatriating illegal immigrants. EU must clarify things with Turkey. There must be a term in the negotiations between Turkey and Europe

-          deliver a blow to illegal trading that is the main source of income for thousands of illegal immigrants

-          the asylum procedure will be sped up but there will also be better conditions to the care facilities

 

Samaras committed for the immediate abolition of Ragoussis’ law that made the country a magnet for illegal immigrants. Those who are caught will be repatriated and those who want to leave on their own will be encouraged.

 

Concluding, he referred to the recent incidents of people taking the law into their own hands and to SYRIZA, saying that it wants to go against the will of society. "It is asking for the disarming of police and proposes that immigrants can bring their families here too. They promise to provide travel documents and instead of putting the immigrants in Europe, they will draw the Greeks out as the Europeans will react by changing the Schengen Treaty. We seek the support of our society to make Greece a safe and democratic land."